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9 




1 


*V 

4 •- u ’ * * * 

THE HOUND OF CULAIN 





) ■ 







Marvelous and terrible was the battle between 
the two champions 










THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


The Child of Promise 


Retold for Story-Teller’s House 
from 

STANDISH O’GRADY 
By 

EILEEN PAGE 

»» 

Drawings by 
LAWRENCE WOOD 


V 


THOMAS S. ROCKWELL COMPANY 
CHICAGO 


1930 

















PZ* 

,1 

/Pl4l 

Her 


Copyright 1930 

THOMAS S. ROCKWELL COMPANY 

CHICAGO 


Printed in United States of America 

©CIA 33384 

JAN 28 '93! 


CONTENTS 


PROLOGUE The Child of Promise 7 

A great feast and a prophecy. 

I The Run-Away io 

Setanta dreams of Emain Macha—a mar¬ 
velous strode and a Mother's blessing — 
Setanta see\s a kingdom, 

II The Boys of Ulster 16 

The unknown stranger displays his prow¬ 
ess—he proclaims his identity—a happy 
meeting. 

III Culain, the Mighty Smith 21 

The Red Knights dine with Culain—Setanta 
follows in the dar\—a fierce watchdog. 

IV How Setanta Was Called Cuculain 26 

Culain s rage at the death of his dog—the 
Red Knights prepare for battle with the 
gloomy smiths—Setanta halts the combat. 

V The Sacred Chariot and the Enchanted 

Horses 32 

Cuculain captures the enchanted horses — 
the steeds eat barley from the hands of their 
new master. 

VI The Knighting of Cuculain 39 

Cuculain hears a prophecy — he finds 
weapons worthy of a \night. 


VII The Attack on the Dun of the Sons of 



Nectan 

44 


Cuculain journeys far to a great mountain — 
he slays the sons of Nectan—a fire. 


VIII 

The Hunt 

5 i 


The enchanted deer and the wild geese from 
the realms beneath the sea. 


IX 

His Triumphs Over the Hosts of Meave 

54 


The Champion Cuculain puts a mighty 
army to rout. 


X 

The Hour of Fate 

58 


A sinister magic—Cuculain comes forth to 
do battle—the death of Cuculain. 



Prologue 


THE CHILD OF PROMISE 

G REAT men were the knights of the Red 
Branch of Ulster. They were called the 
children of Rury and it was said they had 
been born of the gods and the giants. At the noise 
of them running to battle all Ireland shook. Their 
warsteeds drank rivers dry, and the roar of their 
chariots reverberated from the canopy of heaven. 
Emain Macha was their great hall. Its length was 
a mile and nine furlongs and trees such as the earth 
nourished upheld the massive roof. 

This night the great-hearted men of the Red 
Branch were met together there. At one end of 
the vast hall, upon a raised seat, sat their young 
king, Concobar, slender, handsome, and upright. 
Far away at the other end of the hall, on a like dias, 
sat the Champion Fergus. A vast murmur rose 
from the assembly. Innumerable candles, tall as 
spears, illuminated the scene. The eyes of the he¬ 
roes sparkled, and their yellow hair shone in the 
light. White and scarlet glowed the banqueting 
attire and the gold and silver brooches and the 
shining drinking vessels flashed and glittered. 

7 


8 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


It was a night when the knights of the Red 
Branch seemed possessed with the glory of war. 
They sang the battle-song so that the building 
quaked and rocked and there was the clanging of 
falling shields. When the echoes of the sound died, 
there arose somewhere out in the night the clear 
chorus of high voices singing once more the war 
chant of Ulster. The knights of the Red Branch 
were silent, listening. They knew that the song 
came from the boys and tender youths that belonged 
to the line of Rury. From the halls where they 
slept they responded to their fathers. The trees of 
Ulster shed their early leaves at that shout, and birds 
fell dead from the branches. 

It was in the midst of this stir of glory, that the 
High Druid of Ulster, spoke his prophecy. And 
this he said—what had been said before to the 
knights of the Red Branch—that a child of promise 
was destined to come to Emain Macha and through 
this child fame would be brought to Ulster. 

Then Concobar, the king, spoke: 

“The coming of the child of promise has ever been 
held before the Red Branch in prophecy. I command 
you, as the highest of the Druids of Ulster, to divine 
for us when the coming of the child shall be.” 

Then the High Druid put on his divining apparel 
and took his divining instruments in his hands and 
made his symbols of power upon the air. He who 


THE CHILD OF PROMISE 


9 


had long interpreted strange dreams and omens, and 
the notes of wrens and ravens gazed with wide eyes 
full of wonder and amazement. He sang this lay: 

“He is coming. He draweth nigh. 

The child of many prophecies 
The mainstay of Emain Mocha 
The star that is to shine forever upon the 
forehead of the Gael.” 

So it was that the High Druid stood with his long 
white hands raised to the sky, crying his prophecy, 
and when he had made an end of speaking there 
was a great silence in the hall. 


Chapter I 


THE RUN-AWAY 

S OME distance from the great hall of Emain 
Macha where king Concobar walked in glory, 
another of his line was born. This child was 
the nephew of the king and was named Setanta. The 
little boy was raised with the song of the men of 
Rury ringing in his ears, their famous marches and 
battles and single combats and who of the Red 
Branch were worthy and lived and died well and 
who not. Cradled in strong arms, he listened to 
the words of the men of war who sat and talked 
around the blazing logs in the hall. More than all 
else he delighted to hear about the Champion Fergus. 
He grew into a lovely child, very fair and pure, yel¬ 
low-haired and gentle in his bearing. He was grave 
beyond his years and from the time of his birth men 
cried: “He will do many feats in his time, little 
Setanta, and the last will resemble the first.” 

When he was three years old the boy heard the 
baying of the hunting dogs. He ran after their prey 
and with one stone he slayed it. The captains of the 
guard gave him a sheaf of toy javelins and taught 
him how to cast and made for him a sword and a 


10 


THE RUN-AWAY 


ir 


painted shield. He played beside the waves of the 
sea-shore and drove his ball along the hard sand. At 
nights he was allowed to sit with the champions in 
the great hall, listening to the bards who sang of the 
Red Branch heroes who lived at Emain Macha. 

Upon his seventh birthday early in the morning 
he ran to his mother and cried, “Mother, send me 
now to Emain Macha, to my uncle, King Concobar.” 

His mother grew pale when she heard his words. 
She took him away from the great hall where the 
champions sat and kept him in the women’s quar¬ 
ter of the palace. But the boy still dreamed of the 
hall where the knights of the Red Branch dwelt. To 
him it was a fairy city and he knew not whether it 
lay in heaven or on earth or beyond the sea. He 
listened for words of Emain Macha that he might 
learn where it was. And at last there came a day 
when his mother spoke carelessly and the young 
Setanta knew that the road to the hall of King Con¬ 
cobar went past a certain mountain. That night he 
dreamed of Emain Macha and he rose up early in 
the morning and climbed up to the roof of the pal¬ 
ace. There he stood gazing long upon the mountain. 
The next night he dreamed again of the hall, and 
the third night be heard voices saying: “This child 
Setanta is some changeling and not of the blood of 
Rury. He will buy cattle and sell them for profit 
instead of going forth to battle.” 






12 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


Through the night the bright stars glowed in 
heaven, and the red fires burned upon earth, and 
these dimmed and went out, and those paled around 
the paling moon, and the sacred morning lightened 
the east. 

When the sun rose his light was reflected only in 
the innumerable drops of glistening dew, with 
which the immense plain was begemmed, and a 
happy silence reigned save only for the songs of 
birds in the early morn, and the cries of pastoral 
men who kept watch over their roaming herds; and 
from the plain a thin, soft, fairy mist went up. 

Setanta awoke filled with impatience to disprove 
these words he had heard in his dream. He took 
his toy weapons and put on his best clothes. 

“And why do you wear this holiday attire?” 
laughed his mother. 

“Because I shall see great people,” he answered. 

She kissed him, thinking that he lived in a world 
of dreams. 

Then Setanta put his ball upon the ground and 
took his hurle shod in red bronze. 

“Mother,” he cried, “watch this stroke ” 

The ball crossed the great lawn before it touched 
the earth and bounded shining above the trees. 
Truly it was a marvelous stroke for one so young. 
Before he went for the ball, the boy stood still, say¬ 
ing, “Give me your blessing, dear mother.” 




He climbed to the hill's brow and looked westward 


13 













i4 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


“Win victory and blessing for ever, O Setanta,” she 
answered lovingly, “truly you are an expert hurler.” 

Setanta smiled at her, and then turned to run 
swiftly over the lawn to find the hidden ball. 

After awhile the mother looked up to see if the 
boy had returned. “Setanta, Setanta/’ she called, but 
there was no answer. She bade her women go and 
fetch him, but they called and searched in vain. The 
whole household was summoned, but their shouts 
were echoed by silence and the watching and mock¬ 
ing trees rustled and a sound like low laughter 
whispered in the leaves. Setanta was far away. 

The boy ran toward the mountain and the great 
road which he knew led the way to Emain Macha. 
In his left hand was his sheaf of toy javelins; in his 
right the hurle; his little shield was strapped upon 
his back. All day he sped along the highway. In 
the evening he came to the mountain. He gathered 
a bed of dried moss and lay down to sleep. He felt 
neither cold nor hunger. Awakened by the loud 
singing of birds, Setanta started from his mossy 
couch. Light of heart he started up the side of the 
mountain toward the high peaks. He climbed to 
the hill’s brow and looked westward and saw far 
away the white shining roofs of a marvellous city. 
He trembled and rejoiced. He stood a long time 
there, gazing at Emain Macha. He went slowly 
down the mountainside. 


THE RUN AWAY 


i5 


Still following the great road, Setanta walked to¬ 
ward Emain Macha. As he neared the hall of the 
Red Branch knights, his footsteps dragged. He was 
filled with awe. He knew that he travelled toward 
the greatest men of Ulster. 

But as he came to the grounds of the royal palace, 
he heard the cheerful voices of many young boys. 
He hurried forward. His heart yearned for the com¬ 
panionship of these other children of the line of 
Rury. He longed to cry out to them: “I am little 
Setanta and my uncle is the king. Look, I would 
be your friend and playfellow.” Hesitantly he drew 
nearer, watching the boys line up for their hurling 
match. He hoped that someone would call to him 
and welcome him, but none called or welcomed. 
A few looked at him, but with looks of cold sur¬ 
prise, as though they said: ‘‘Who is this stranger 
boy and what is he doing here?” 

Setanta’s heart grew heavy. How often he had 
dreamed of his first meeting with the young boys 
who lived at his uncle’s hall. He had thought that 
he would be welcomed and made much of because 
he was the nephew of the great Concobar and on 
account of his skill in hurling. But no one noticed 
him. No one kissed him and bade him welcome 
or took him by the right hand and led him among 
the others. No one seemed glad of his coming. He 
wept bitterly. 


Chapter II 


THE BOYS OF ULSTER 

A ND now the hurling match was on. Suddenly 
the ball bounded into a clear space not far 
from Setanta. Setanta, carried away with ex¬ 
citement, forgot that he had no part in the game. 
He cast his javelins to the ground, flung his shield 
on the grass and started in pursuit of the bounding 
ball. He outran all the others and took possession 
of it. Deftly he used his hurle, so that the ball eluded 
every opponent who sought to check it. Finally with 
a clear loud stroke he sent it straight through the 
middle of the goal. A shout of admiration greeted 
his skillful shot. Then the boys gathered around 
him. Some said, “You are a stranger here but you 
are very expert in the use of the hurle. Tell us how 
you learned to play so well?” Others cried, “Who 
are you?” 

And this was what Setanta had longed to have 
them ask. Now they would know that he was one 
of them. Now they would rejoice to have him here. 

“I am Setanta, the nephew of King Concobar,” he 
cried joyously. 

But instead of rejoicing, there was silence. Then 


16 


THE BOYS OF ULSTER 


*7 


the captain of the boys and the biggest and strongest 
of all of them shouted: “The king’s nephew—nay 
—you are a churl and a liar to boot. Run—run far— 
with wings on your heels to aid you, or I shall beat 
you off the lawn.” 

Sctanta, filled with bewilderment and fury and a 
fierce aching, stood like a still figure carved out of 
white marble. Then the captain of the boys mistook 
his pallor for fear and raised his hurle to strike this 
unworthy one who had come into their midst. Se- 
tanta sprang back avoiding the blow and before the 
other recovered from his surprise Setanta had struck 
him soundly over the ear. With a shout, the boys 
raced toward Setanta. They struck at him all to¬ 
gether in their efforts to beat him off the lawn. 
Many times the slight figure of Setanta was flung 
to the ground, but again and again he arose, over¬ 
throwing many of the others and hitting at them 
with his hurle. The skirts of his mantle were torn, 
only a rag remained round his shoulders, fastened 
by the brooch; he was covered with blood and his 
eyes were like burning fire as he drove the boys of 
Ulster before him. 

The battle fury had descended upon Setanta. His 
strength was multiplied tenfold and the steam of 
war-madness rose above him. He staggered to no 
blow, but every boy whom he struck fell. He 














18 THE HOUND OF CULAIN 

charged this way and that. A strange tumult arose. 
The war-steeds of the men of the Red Branch 
neighed loudly in their stables and there was a 
clanging of brass and the roar of shields and the 
singing sound of swords. Then Setanta shouted to 
the boys who attacked him: “I will not stop this 
fight until you have withdrawn or until I lie with¬ 
out life on this lawn as a monument of the hospi¬ 
tality of the Red Branch.” 

The boys of Ulster hesitated, half ashamed at the 
words of the stranger. Then one boy stood out from 
the rest. He was freckled-faced and his hair was 
flaming red. 

“You shall have a comrade in the battle hence¬ 
forth,” he said. “Oh brave stranger, a prophetess 
once told me that my life-long friend would be found 
standing against the walls of Emain Macha, at bay, 
with the blood and soil of battle upon him and alone 
challenging a multitude. She told me that this boy 
and I would be life-friends and that no man has 
ever had a friend like him or will till the end of 
time. I am called Laeg and from this day forward 
I am your man.” 

At this word of kindness, Setanta hid his head and 
hot tears burned in his eyes. But he heard the mock¬ 
ery of the others, and once more he drove the boys 
off. He chased them far over the green lawn. As 
he followed the retreating ones, he came to a part 


THE BOYS OF ULSTER 


19 


of the grounds where two men sat at a chess table. 
Running so swiftly he could not stop, Setanta sprang 
lightly over the players. A hand reached forth and 
stopped his flight. 

Setanta stood, panting with exhaustion, looking 
into the kindly eyes of the King himself. 

“Why are you so angry—why do you hurt my 
boys?” said the King gravely. 

It was a long time before Setanta was calm enough 
to speak. He answered quietly: 

“Because they have not treated me with the respect 
due to a stranger.” 

“Who are you?” said the King. 

“I am Setanta, the son of your sister, and it is not 
before my uncle’s palace that I should be so basely 
dishonoured.” 

Concobar smiled for he was well pleased with the 
appearance and behaviour of the boy. Then the 
other chess-player caught the child up in his arms 
and kissed him, saying: “Do you know me, little 
Setanta?” 

“I think you must be the great champion, Fergus, 
himself,” Setanta cried with joy in his voice. Had 
he not always longed to see this great hero? 

“Ah—I shall be his tutor, Oh king,” cried Fergus. 
“Will you have me, Setanta?” 

The boy’s eyes glowed. This was the welcome of 
which he had dreamed for so long. 


20 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


And soon Setanta became one of the boys. King 
Concobar was not only captain of the Red Branch 
and ruler of Ulster but he was also head of a great 
school. Setanta became the captain of the school 
and Laeg, his comrade, began the long friendship 
with the Kings nephew during the months that fol¬ 
lowed. Together they learned the strange studies 
that Concobar ordered for his pupils: to hurl spears 
at a mark; to train war-horses and guide war-char¬ 
iots; to defend themselves with sword and shield; to 
cast the hand-stone of the warrior; to run and leap 
and swim; to rear tents of turf and roof them with 
rushes; to play at chess, to drink and be merry; to be 
kind to the feeble and to do all that brave men do 
in thought and action during war and peace. Again 
Setanta heard of his forefathers and the line of Rury. 
And he knew the names of the knights of the Red 
Branch and the names of the boys of Ulster whose 
sires were these knights. 

And often when the candles were snuffed out and 
darkness filled the dormitories, Setanta whispered 
to his faithful friend Laeg, of the days when they 
too would be knights of the Red Branch and fight¬ 
ers for Concobar on a glorious field of battle. 


Chapter III 


CULAIN THE MIGHTY SMITH 

O NE morning a man came to Emain Macha. 
He was grim and swarthy, with great hands 
and arms. He came before Concobar and 
spoke: “My master, Culain, the high smith of Ulster, 
bids you to supper this night, O Concobar; and he 
invites you to bring with you a selection of your 
knights, choosing those who are not great eaters, and 
drinkers and you shall all have a fair welcome, a 
goodly supper, and a quantity of drink.” That 
speech caused great mirth among the men of the 
Red Branch. But Concobar did not smile. He ac¬ 
cepted the invitation courteously and the messenger 
went his way. 

Now this same Culain was a mighty craftsman in 
those days. It was he who used to make weapons, 
armour, and chariots for the men of Ulster and there 
was never in Ireland a better smith than he. In his 
huge and smoky smithy the ringing of hammers and 
the husky roar of the bellows seldom ceased. He 
lived on a barren moor beyond the village and the 
lonely herdsmen and shepherds fled from the red 
glare of his furnaces in terror. 


n 


22 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


That afternoon Concobar chose certain of his 
knights and set forth for the home of Culain, the 
mighty smith. As they crossed the lawn, the king 
saw young Setanta playing with his comrades. Well 
beloved was the child at Emain Macha. He was now 
ten years old, straight and well-made, with sinews 
as hard as tempered steel. When he saw the king 
looking at him, he blushed for in spite of his great 
strength and skill, he was modest and shy. 

“Setanta,” Concobar said smiling, “Culain, the 
mighty smith has invited us to a feast. If it would 
please you, you may come too.” 

“It is pleasing indeed,” replied the boy, for he had 
long desired to see the great forger, “but I cannot 
leave the boys in the midst of our contest. As soon 
as it is over I will follow quickly. I will not lose 
my way upon the moor, for the road is well trodden 
and will guide me.” 

Concobar gave him permission and Setanta has¬ 
tened back to his playmates. 

As they went their way to the smith’s, the King 
cautioned his knights against saying or doing any¬ 
thing that might make Culain angry, or incite them 
to any wrath. 

“Culain and his many smiths are a strange people 
and a great and formidable people,” Concobar 
warned them. 

The Red Branch did not like these words. They 


CULAIN THE MIGHTY SMITH 


23 


thought that under the measureless canopy of the 
sky there were no people great or formidable but 
themselves. 

# * # # 

When Culain saw far away the tall figures of the 
Red Branch and the flashing of their weapons and 
armor, he cried out to his people to stop working 
and to make ready to receive Concobar. He and 
his journeymen and apprentices washed the smoke 
and sweat of their labour away, peering into the 
dark waters of enormous tubs to see how they looked 
in their glorious array. And the house thralls pre¬ 
pared the supper, roasting and boiling and stewing. 
A party of Culain’s men went forth to greet the 
guests, but Culain stood in the great doorway await¬ 
ing them. He stood with one knee crooked, leaning 
upon a long ash-handled sledge with a head of glit¬ 
tering bronze. It was dusk when Concobar reached 
the host’s side. 

“Are you all here who are to come?” said the 
smith as they approached. 

“Here we all are,” said the men of the Red Branch 
gayly, not thinking of the following Setanta. 

As they went inside, Culain bade his servants raise 
the drawbridge and after that he unchained his one 
dog to guard the household while the feast was go¬ 
ing on. The dog was of great size and fierceness. 
He was faithful to Culain and guarded his property 


2 4 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


vigilantly at night. He was quick of sight and hear¬ 
ing and only slept in the daytime. When Culain un¬ 
loosened him, he ran around the moat baying fear¬ 
fully and then stood stiffly at the edge of it, watching 
and listening and growling when he heard some 
noise far away. 

In the meantime the smith went inside with his 
guests. When he had commanded his people to 
light the candles, he slammed the vast folding doors 
with his right hand and with his left he drew forth 
the bar and shot it in place. Certain of the younger 
knights of Ulster looked to Concobar for reassurance. 
Not one of them could have opened that great portal. 
But the captain of the Red Branch was listening with 
pleasure to the words of the rough Culain. The 
mighty smith swore that no generation of the chil¬ 
dren of Rury had put the weapons that Culain had 
forged to such good use as the men of Concobar’s 
host. Concobar then praised the smith and his 
workers for their work, mentioning the great shield 
that belonged to himself, that which was called 
Ocean because it roared when the brave captain of 
the Red Branch was in danger. And greatly pleased 
was the smith, Culain, as he heard these words. 

The night wore on and the feasting and drinking 
reached its height. Now there were toasts for he¬ 
roes of the past and for those who were in the room. 
At last Concobar spoke, saying: “Let there be toasts 


CULAIN THE MIGHTY SMITH 


25 


for the heroes who are to come after us, as well as 
for those who have gone before. A toast to the boys 
of my school and especially for their captain, my 
nephew Setanta.” 

“Is he then a boy of promise, O Concobar?” said 
the smith, “for if he is I am truly rejoiced to know it.” 

“He is all that I say,” said the King proudly. “And 
of that you yourself shall be judge tonight. He is 
coming soon. At any moment I expect to hear the 
loud clamor of his hurle upon the doors, for he will 
leap at one bound your moat and your rampart.” 

Culain, the smith, started from his high seat when 
he heard these words. His brows were drawn to¬ 
gether with rage: “If the boy comes now,” he said, 
“before I can chain my watchdog, your Setanta will 
be torn into small pieces.” 

Even as the smith’s words startled his listeners, a 
long baying of a dog sounded terribly in the hollow 
night, and the face of every hero in the vast chamber 
suddenly blanched. 


Chapter IV 


HOW SETANTA WAS CALLED CU-CULAIN 

O UTSIDE was heard a noise of trampling feet 
and short furious yells and gaspings. There 
was a sudden dull sound at which the earth 
seemed to shake, mingled with the noise of break¬ 
ing bones, and after that silence. Before the people 
in the smith’s household could do more than look 
at each other speechless, they heard a knocking at 
the door. Some of the smith’s workers shot back 
the bolt, and the boy Setanta stepped in out of the 
night. He was very pale. His scarlet mantle was 
in rags and trailing, and his linen tunic beneath and 
his white knees were red with blood which ran down 
his legs and over his bare feet. He bowed as he had 
been taught, to the man of the house and to his 
people. The knights of Red Branch ran to meet 
him, but Fergus was the first and he took the boy 
upon his mighty shoulder and bore him down to 
where King Concobar was sitting. 

“Did the dog attack you?” said Culain. 

“Truly he came against me,” answered the boy. 
“And are you hurt ?” cried the smith. 

“No, indeed,” answered Setanta, “but I think he is.” 


26 


HOW SETANTA WAS CALLED CU-CULAIN 27 


At that moment a party of the smith’s people en¬ 
tered bearing between them the carcass of the dog, 
and they showed Culain how the skull of the dog 
and his ribs had been broken in pieces by some 
mighty blow. And they said in wonder: “One of 
the great pillars which stands at the bridge is bent 
awry and the clean bronze is stained with blood. 
It was at the foot of that pillar we found the dog.” 

As Culain looked at his dog, there was a great 
silence in the chamber. The eyes of the smith were 
darkly brooding and his voice was charged with 
wrath and sorrow when he spoke. 

“O Concobar,” he said, “and you, the rest of the 
children of Rury. You are my guests tonight, where¬ 
fore it is not lawful that I should take vengeance 
upon you for the killing of my brave and faithful 
hound, who was a better keeper of my treasures than 
a company of hired warriors. Truly there was not 
his equal as a watcher and warder in the world. 
Therefore I must be paid some forfeit. Consult to¬ 
gether concerning its amount and let it be great for 
by Orchil and all the gods who rule beneath the 
earth, I will not accept a small one.” 

Concobar answered hotly: “You shall not get 
from me nor from the men of Ulster any forfeit 
great or small. My nephew slew the beast in fair 
fight, defending his own life. But I will say some¬ 
thing else, proud smith. Had the wolf slain my 


28 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


nephew not one of you would have left this hall alive, 
and of your famous city I would have made a smok¬ 
ing heap.” 

The Red Branch fiercely applauded this speech. 
Then the smiths armed themselves with their ham¬ 
mers and tongs and fire-poles and great bars of un¬ 
wrought brass. Culain the mighty seized an anvil 
with which to lay waste the ranks of Concobar’s 
men. The knights of Ulster on their side ran to the 
walls and plucked down their spears from the pegs, 
and they raised their shields and balanced their long 
spears, and swords flashed and screeched as they 
rushed forth. The vast chamber glittered with shak¬ 
ing bronze and shone with the eyeballs of angry men. 
There were shouts of defiance and quick fierce words 
of command. The Red Branch battled from one side 
of the chamber and the smiths from the other. The 
vast and high dome re-echoed with the terrible cries 
of the men of Ulster and the roar of the children of 
the gloomy Orchil who ruled beneath the ground 
was heard. Far away the magic shield, Ocean, that 
hung at Emain Macha moaned, for the peril of 
death and of shortness of life were around Concobar 
in that hour. So men stood ready to battle and it 
was plain that the smiths would have made a bloody 
end of the Red Branch had the battle gone forward. 
But before the first missle was hurled on either side, 
the boy Setanta sprang into the midst of the enraged 



The boy Setanta sprang into the midst of the 
enraged men 


29 























3° 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


men and cried aloud with a clear high voice that 
rang distinctly above the tumult: 

“Restrain your men, great Culain, and you O men 
of Ulster do not shoot. I myself will pay the forfeit 
for the brave and faithful hound. I will myself take 
the dog’s place and nightly guard your property, 
sleepless as he was, and I will continue to do so till 
a hound as trusty and valiant as the hound I slew 
is found to take my place and relieve me of the duty. 
Truly I did not slay your hound to show my su¬ 
perior strength, but only in the defense of my own 
life. Three times he leaped upon me with white 
fangs bared and eyes red with murder and three 
times I cast him off, but when the fourth time he 
rushed upon me like a storm, I took him by the 
throat and by his legs and flung him against one of 
the pillars hoping to stun him. Truly, great Culain, 
it was not my intention to kill him and I am sorry 
that he is dead, seeing that he was so faithful and 
so brave in guarding your castle.” 

When Culain the mighty heard the words of the 
fair youth his fierce brows relaxed. At first he looked 
at the lad with pity—but gradually the boy’s brav¬ 
ery aroused his admiration. 

“Your proposal is pleasing to me,” he said, “and I 
will accept it.” 

And when Concobar saw the smith throw his 
mighty anvil into the dark end of the chamber, he 


HOW SETANTA WAS CALLED CU-CULAIN 31 


too dropped his weapons. He knew that he could 
trust the boy with Culain for the rough man was 
ever tender with those who were sturdy and noble, 
and the captain of the Red Branch rejoiced because 
his men were safe. Well he knew that the huge 
gloomy smiths might have killed all the men of 
Ulster in their terrible rage. 

“As long as the boy shall live he shall be called 
the Hound of Culain or Cuculain,” said the mighty 
smith Culain, “for all who live should be named by 
their deeds that their name may have meaning. 
Surely no deed that little Setanta will ever do will 
be greater or more marvelous than the banishing of 
my hound and the taking of its place himself.” 

And all men agreed with Culain. Little Setanta 
remained a long time with the smith and he was 
called ever after Cuculain and it was under his new 
name that he wrought all his marvellous deeds. 







Chapter V 


THE SACRED CHARIOT AND THE 
ENCHANTED HORSES 

C ULAIN the mighty found at last another hound 
to guard his treasures and young Cuculain 
went back to live with the men of the Red 
Branch. The days passed happily. The little Se- 
tanta was forgotten. Instead a fair youth named 
Cuculain ran merrily with the boys of Ulster. If at 
one time Concobar had dreamed that this boy who 
had come into their midst might be the child of 
promise that had been prophecied, he forgot his 
dream. For Cuculain, though he far surpassed the 
other lads, seemed like one of them as he shot spears 
and cast battle-stones and hurled on the great lawn. 
The prophecies had been very great. Concobar 
looked for a child that resembled the gods or die 
giants. But so great was the love that Cuculain 
called forth that Concobar was not disappointed that 
his nephew was not the chosen one. 

One day the king called Cuculain to him, saying: 
“I have a duty for you, lad. A part of my kingly 
office demands that I take care of the chariot of 
Macha and for this task I may choose an assistant 


32 


SACRED CHARIOT—ENCHANTED HORSES 33 


to aid me in its fulfillment. Ilian the Fair was my 
last helper. It is time to choose another. The task 
is yours if it pleases you.” 

Cuculain was pleased that this honor had come to 
him. Then Concobar said: 

“Go and fill this silver jar with oil and bring with 
you a towel of fawn-skin.” 

Cuculain obeyed, and together they went to the 
chariot-house. They entered the vast hollow room 
that held only the chariot. It was of great size and 
beauty. The bronze seemed to burn it was so bright. 
By its side were two horse-stalls with racks and man¬ 
gers of gold bronze and yellow brass. The floor 
was paved with cut marble, the walls lined with 
smooth boards of ash. Nine lamps were in the room 
and burned with a high flame. 

“It will be your duty to feed the lamps,” said Con¬ 
cobar, “go now to the chamber where the grain is 
kept and clear out the mangers to the last grain and 
empty the stale barley and afterwards fill them with 
the fresh barley you will bring here.” 

Cuculain obeyed. But when he returned and saw 
his uncle polishing the head-gear of the horses and 
the long shining reins of interwoven brass, he cried 
in bewilderment as he watched him: “Where are 
the horses, my Uncle Concobar?” 

“That I cannot rightly tell,” answered the King. 

“But what are these horses?” said the boy. “What 


34 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


are they called? What are they like and why do 
1 fill their racks and mangers with good barley if 
they are not here to eat it?” 

“They are enchanted horses,” said Concobar 
dreamily, “they are called Liath Macha and Black 
Shanglan. They have not been seen in Erin for 
three hundred years. It is said that they are to return 
some day for the promised one that has been prophe- 
cied for us. They will bear him to battle.” 

“Will the promised one be a great and stern hero?” 
asked the boy. 

“Nay, it is said that he will be gentle and not 
know his own greatness. His nearest comrades will 
not know it and there will be more of love in his 
heart than war.” 

Cuculain was excited at these words, and when 
he went back to the hall he told Laeg what Conco¬ 
bar had said. 

# # # # 

One night soon after Cuculain stood in the garden 
looking at the stars. Suddenly he heard a voice say 
to him: “Tonight, O Cuculain, you shall go forth 
and take captive the enchanted horses, Liath Macha 
and Black Shanghlan. Power will be given to you 
and you may go forth boldly.” 

Cuculain wondered at this happening. He shiv¬ 
ered with excitement, and when he went into the 
supper hall he walked as if he were in a dream. 


SACRED CHARIOT—ENCHANTED HORSES 35 


“Your eyes are very bright,” said Laeg anxiously. 

“They will be brighter ere the day comes,” Cu- 
culain replied. 

Laeg shrugged his shoulders for he did not under¬ 
stand his friend’s words. He turned his attention 
to the juggler who had entered the hall to perform 
during the dinner hour. 

“That is an expert juggler,” said Laeg. “How he 
tosses the bright balls!” 

“I wonder if he could toss the stars as well,” 
laughed Cuculain. 

“You are strange and wild tonight,” said Laeg. 

“I will be stranger and wilder ere the morrow,” 
cried Cuculain. 

With these words Cuculain sprang to his feet. 
Laeg caught hold of his mantle, but the piece came 
away in his hand. Cuculain was off before they 
knew it. 

“Where are you going, lad?” the King cried. 

“To seek my horses,” they heard Cuculain reply. 

“They are stabled since the setting of the sun,” 
said the chief groom. 

“Nay—they are never stabled,” answered the boy. 
“They are in the hills and valleys of Erin.” 

Only Concobar understood these words. His eyes 
burned and he smiled as he said: 

“Great deeds will be done in Erin this night.” 

Then started Cuculain on his strange errand. He 


36 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


crossed the plains and the moors and the open coun¬ 
try. On his way he stopped at the smithy of Culain 
the mighty. Culain’s new hound cowered low when 
he saw him. The boy sprang over moat and ram¬ 
part at one bound and rushed into the presence of 
the great smith. 

“This is a strange way to enter a man’s house,” 
said Culain. 

“It is,” answered Cuculain, “but even stranger 
things are to happen this night. I want bridles that 
will hold the Liath Macha and Black Shanglan. 
Can your smiths make them ?” 

“Fire all the furnaces,” cried Culain. “Handle 
your tools; show your might. Work now, men, for 
your lives. Truly if Cuculain has not the bridles 
your dead will be more numerous than your living. 
The wild horses will trample us all.” 

Faster than light they worked. Culain himself 
aided the lesser smiths. At last Cuculain had the 
bridles. Once more he went forth. He went south¬ 
west to the Grey Lake. The moon shone and the 
lake glowed like silver. Out of the waters arose a 
slow, sweet, fairy music, most heart-piercing, causing 
tears through its beauty. 

In the pale light, Cuculain saw a great horse feed¬ 
ing by the water. The horse raised his head and 
neighed when he heard footsteps on the hill. He 
came toward Cuculain and the boy came toward 


SACRED CHARIOT—ENCHANTED HORSES 37 


him. Cuculain had one bridle knotted around his 
waist and the other in his teeth. He leaped upon 
the steed and caught him by the forelock and his 
mouth. The horse reared mightily, but Cuculain 
held him and dragged his head down to the ground. 
The grey steed grew greater and more terrible. So 
did Cuculain. 

“You have met your master, O Liath Macha, this 
night,” he cried. “Surely I will not lose you. Ascend 
into the heavens or descend into the realm that Orchil 
rules, yet even so you will not shake me away.” 

Ireland quaked from the centre to the sea. They 
reeled together, steed and hero. 

“Make the circuit of all Ireland, Liath Macha, and 
I shall be on your neck still,” cried Cuculain as 
he clung to him with all his strength. 

The horse went in reeling circles round Ireland. 
Then Liath Macha went a second time round Ireland. 
The sea retreated from the shore and stood in heaps* 
Cuculain sprang upon his back. A third time the 
horse went round Ireland, bounding from peak to 
peak. And then it came to a stand. 

“I think you are tamed, O Liath Macha,” said Cu¬ 
culain. “Go on now to the Dark Valley.” 

So through the wilderness they rode alone, and the 
darkness increased and behind them full and round 
rose the white moon. The wind blew cold over 
those waste solitudes and the stones gleamed white 


38 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


and fierce like the fangs of wolves bared and staring 
in the ghastly moonshine. 

They came to the Dark Valley. There was night 
there always. As the moon set, Cuculain saw faces 
that moved amongst the trees mocking him, and 
horrid things, formless and cold, estrays out of the 
fold of hell, wandering blots of the everlasting dark¬ 
ness, and there was laughter in the hollow chambers 
of the forest. They rode past the apparitions. There 
was a roaring of unseen rivers in the darkness, of 
black cataracts rushing down the steep sides of the 
Valley. The Liath Macha neighed loudly. A horse 
neighed joyfully in response. There was a noise of 
iron doors rushing open somewhere and a four- 
footed thunderous trampling on the hollow-sounding 
earth. A steed came to the Liath Macha. Cuculain 
felt for his head in the dark and bitted and bridled 
him ere he was aware of what had happened. The 
horse reared and struggled. 

“Struggle not, Black Shanglan,” said Cuculain, “I 
have tamed you.” 

The horse ceased to struggle. 

Then rode Cuculain to Emain Macha with the two 
horses like lords of Day and Night, for Liath Macha 
was a silvery grey and Black Shanglan was as dark 
as night. The doors of the chariot-house flew open 
to receive them, and that night the enchanted steeds 
ate barley from the hands of their new master. 


Chapter VI 


THE KNIGHTING OF CUCULAIN 


O NE night when the stars shone brightly, Cucu- 
lain passed by the astrological tower where 
Cathvah stood reading the wisdom of the 
stars. And Cuculain heard Cathvah say to his stu¬ 
dents that whoever should be knighted by Concobar 
on the next day would be famous to the world’s end. 
Cuculain left the tower thoughtfully. 

Later that night a fearful storm rocked all Ireland. 
There were mighty tramplings and cries and a four- 
footed thunder of giant hoofs. Buildings shook and 
a brazen clangour sounded under the bright stars. 
The chiefs of the Red Branch sat in the great hall, 
wakeful and brooding. Such a druidic storm as this 
carried portents of some great wonder. 

Suddenly Cuculain came into the hall and ap¬ 
proached the high seat where Concobar sat with 
those high in his counsel. 

“If it is pleasing to you, my Uncle,” he said, “I 
would be knighted on the morrow, for I am now of 
due age and owing to the instructions of my tutor, 
the Champion Fergus, I am able to play a man’s part 
among the knights of the Red Branch.” 







4 o 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


“Have you heard what Cathvah has predicted con¬ 
cerning the youth who is knighted on the morrow ?” 
said the King. 

“Yes,” answered Cuculain, “that he will be famous 
to the world’s end.” 

“That is not all,” said Concobar sternly, “that he 
will be short-lived and unhappy as well.” 

“That does not alter my wish, though I may not 
be him of whom Cathvah has this night prophecied,” 
said Cuculain. 

Concobar yielded to the boy’s request, though his 
heart was sad at the thought of any unhappiness com¬ 
ing to Cuculain. But his hopes were high. What 
might not Cuculain do? Had he not brought the 
Enchanted horses back to the stable of Macha? In 
the dead of night Concobar took a candle and went 
to the boy’s dormitory. He saw Cuculain and Laeg, 
his comrade, sleeping near one another. Their faces 
were turned toward each other. Cuculain’s face w r as 
as serene as his friend’s. The king shivered in dread. 
Sorrow would come to the features of this lad who 
slept so dreamlessly in peace. 

On the morrow there was a great hosting of the 
Red Branch on the plain of the Assemblies. Chari¬ 
ots and war-horses ringed the plain. All the horses’ 
heads were turned toward the centre where Concobar 
and the chiefs of the Red Branch stood. The plain 
flashed with gold, bronze, and steel and glowed with 


THE KNIGHTING OF CUCULAIN 


4 * 

the bright mantles of the heroes, crimson and scarlet, 
blue, green, or purple. The huge brooches on their 
breasts of gold and silver and of gold-like bronze 
were like resplendent wheels. These were the heroes 
and demigods of the heroic age of Erin, champions 
who feared nothing beneath the sun, mightiest 
among the mighty, huge, proud and unconquerable. 
Concobar had no crown. A plain circle of beaten 
gold girt his broad temples. His stature and noble 
bearing, his slowly-turning, steady-gazing eyes and 
the majesty of his bearded countenance marked him 
the captain of the Red Branch. 

Cuculain came forth from the palace. He wore 
that day a short mantle of pale-red silk bordered with 
white thread and fastened on the breast with a small 
silver brooch. His tunic of fine linen was girt with a 
leathern belt stained to the color of a wild-briar rose. 
His hair fell in auburn locks. As to his eyes, no two 
could agree to their color, for some said they were 
blue, some grey and there were those who thought 
they were blacker than the blackest night that was 
ever known. He stood as straight and pliant as a 
young fir tree. So he came to the assembly in the 
glory of youth and beauty and strength, yet proud 
in his humility and glittering like the morning star. 
The kings held their breath when he drew near. 

When the rites had been performed and the due 
sacrifices and libations made and after Cuculain had 


42 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


put his right hand into the right hand of the King 
and become his man, Concobar gave him a shield, 
two spears and a sword, weapons of great price. 
Cuculain struck the spears together and broke them. 
He clashed the sword on the shield and it broke into 
small pieces while the shield was bent and torn. 

“These are not worthy weapons, my King,” said 
Cuculain, “with which to fight for you.” 

Twice Concobar sent for stronger arms and Cucu¬ 
lain shattered them, and the king was exultant when 
he beheld the amazing strength and the wayward¬ 
ness of the boy. Finally he beckoned to one of his 
knights who hastened away and returned bearing 
Concobar’s own shield and spears and sword. And 
these Cuculain could not break. 

“These are good arms,” cried the young knight. 

“Choose now the charioteer who will drive the 
war-horses and chariot that I shall give you,” said 
Concobar. 

And the boys went through many tests, hoping 
that Cuculain would choose the strongest among 
them. Near-by stood Laeg with a pale face. Cuculain 
laughed and said, “Ah, Laeg, did you think I would 
choose other than you to drive me?” 

“Ah yes, there was that fear upon me,” sighed 
Laeg in answer. 

After that Laeg stood by Cuculain’s side and held 
his peace, but his face shone with joy and pride. 


THE KNIGHTING OF CUCULAIN 


43 


Then there were led forward by two strong knights 
a pair of great and spirited horses and a splendid 
war-car. Cuculain sprang into the car and stamped 
from side to side until the axle broke and the car fell 
to pieces. 

“It is not a worthy chariot,” said the lad. 

Others were brought forward, and Cuculain broke 
in succession nine war chariots, the greatest and 
strongest in Emain. When he broke the ninth, a 
loud neighing was heard in the stables of Macha. 
Then at a signal from Concobar, Laeg and Cuculain 
leaped forward to the stables where the Sacred Char¬ 
iot and the Enchanted Horses were kept. And soon 
men heard the thundering of the great war-car and 
the wild neighing of the immortal steeds as they 
broke from the dark stable into the clear light of day. 
They were seen rushing forth from the city into the 
open, the great car green and gold with many twink¬ 
ling wheels, the charioteer leaning backwards and 
sideways as he laboured to restrain the fury of the 
grey steed and the black one. And standing erect 
with brandishing spears was Cuculain. The wild 
people of the glens and the demons of the air roared 
around him and the war sprites of Gael shouted after 
him and the men of Ulster fell down like reaped 
grass with their faces to the earth. They knew now 
that Cuculain was the child of promise who had come 
their way according to the Druid’s prophecies. 


Chapter VII 


THE DUN OF THE SONS OF NECTAN 

H APPILY rode Laeg and Cuculain. The power 
and gallant action of the steeds and the clank¬ 
ing of the harness and chains and the ringing 
of the weapons of war filled them with excitement. 

So all day long the chariot brayed along the stony 
ways or raced across the smooth plains. For where 
the land was tilled and enclosed, and the homesteads 
of men abounded, and their labours, there indeed 
were roads, but oftentimes they traversed wide terri¬ 
tories where was no chariot-track and no sign-post 
save the distant hills. Across the Calan they rushed 
while the foaming spray flew high above the tramp¬ 
ling steeds, and along the reedy shores, where, in the 
oak-groves, herds of many swine under their keepers, 
battened on the root of the wild parsnip. Between 
the echoing woods and the gleaming lake, in sun¬ 
shine and shadow, Laeg the charioteer thundered. 
Out on the quiet mere, fishermen let fall their half- 
drawn nets and sprang to their oars at the noise of 
his journeying. 

“What is that great firm-based mountain upon our 
left hand ?” said Cuculain. 


44 


THE DUN OF THE SONS OF NECTAN 45 


And Laeg said: “Men call it Slieve Modurn after a 
giant of old.” 

“Guide the horses there,” said Cuculain, “it is right 
that those who go forth to battle against an enemy 
should first spy out the land. Slieve Modurn yonder 
commands a brave respect.” 

They unharnessed the horses in the green valley 
and leaving them to graze, climbed the mountain and 
stood upon the top, overlooking the great green 
plain that extended on the other side. Far away on 
the left glittered the White Cairn of Slieve Faud; 
far away in front the plains of Murthemney rolled 
green to the Ictian sea. Eastward, he saw the dark 
highland of Fochaine and—like a silver thread—the 
bright way where, from his fountains, Avon-Dia 
sought the sea. Out of the cloudless west the hot 
sun watched him. The shadows of the gigantic 
steeds stretched wavering down the eastern slopes. 
And Cuculain questioned Laeg concerning the cities 
of the plain and the nobles and kings who dwelt 
in the prosperous duns. And Cuculain said: “None 
of these kings and lords and chief men whom we 
have talked of have at any time injured my nation 
and there is not one whom I may take vengeance 
upon rightly. But I see one other splendid dun 
and of this no word has been mentioned though I 
have questioned you three times concerning it with¬ 
out receiving an answer, my friend.” 


4 6 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


Lacg grew pale at these words and he said, “What 
dun is that, master ?” 

“Fox that you are, right well you know which one 
I mean,” said Cuculain hotly. “It is not a little one, 
but great, proud and rearing its towers as a man who 
has never known defeat lifts his head. Come, Laeg, 
answer me, what dun is this?” 

“That is the dun of the sons of Nectan,” Laeg an¬ 
swered slowly. “Take the road to any dun in the 
world save that one, master. The men are not alive 
today who at any time approach the sons of Nectan 
with warlike intent. Those who dwell in their dun 
are sorcerers and enchanters, lords of all the arts of 
poison and of war.” 

“Lead on and guide thither my horses, for I shall 
lay waste that dun and burn it with fire, after having 
slain the men who dwell there.” 

Laeg saw the valour that kindled the soul of Cucu¬ 
lain. Fearing it, he obeyed. 

Once more they harnessed the horses and yoked the 
chariot. Southward, then, they fared swiftly through 
the night. When they arrived at the dun of the sons 
of Nectan it was twilight and the dawning of the 
day. Before the dun there was a green and spacious 
lawn in full view of the palace. 

“Noble indeed is the dun,” said Cuculain, “and 
pleasant this green grass. It is still early, for the sun 
is not yet risen and the people of the dun are in heavy 


THE DUN OF THE SONS OF NECTAN 


47 


slumber. I would repose now for a while and rest 
myself before the battle that awaits me this day. 
Wherefore, good Laeg, let down the sides and seats 
of the chariot, that I may take a short sleep.” 

“Witless and without sense, you are,” answered 
Laeg, “for who but an idiot would think of sweet 
sleep in hostile territory, much more in full view of 
those who look out from the dun of the sons of 
Nectan.” 

“Do as I bid,” said Cuculain. 

So Laeg obeyed, though his heart was heavy with 
misgiving, and soon Cuculain slept. 

Of the people of the dun, Foil, son of Nectan, was 
the first to awake. With one hand he shot back the 
bar of his chamber, making a tremendous noise. 
There he stood, a black-haired fierce figure in the 
doorway. He looked at Laeg and Laeg looked at 
him in return. 

“Drive the horses off the lawn,” he snarled. 

“Drive them off yourself,” said Laeg. 

“Who is this sleeping youth?” cried Foil in great 
anger when he heard these words. 

“He is a certain mild and gentle youth of Ulster 
who yesterday morning assumed his arms of chivalry 
for the first time and has come hither to prove his 
valor with brave deeds.” 

“Many youths of his nation have come here but 
they have never returned,” laughed Foil loudly. 


4 8 


THE HGUND OF CULAIN 


“This youth will,” said La eg, “after having slain 
the sons of Nectan and after having sacked their 
dun and burned it with fire. Go back now for your 
weapons of war and all the instruments of sorcery 
and enchantment you have, for truly you are in need 
of them all ” 

The people of the dun, awakened by the sound of 
voices, clustered like bees on the slope of the mound. 
They hissed and roared and shouted words of insult 
as Laeg spoke. And Laeg stood still and silent with 
the point of his sword leaning on the ground. Very 
ardently he longed for his master to awake. He saw 
Foil disappear and knew that he had gone for his 
arms. At the moment Foil reappeared in the door¬ 
way of the dun, fully equipped for battle. Cuculain 
opened his eyes. At first he was bewildered, but 
when he heard the people shouting and saw his 
enemy descending the slopes of the dun, he started 
from his bed like a deer from its lair. And the peo¬ 
ple of the dun fell silent when they beheld his swift 
movements and the splendour of his beauty. 

Then they fought, and in the first combat Cuculain 
could do no more than defeqd himself against the 
fierce onslaught of Foil. The second combat was like 
the first. But in the third round Cuculain sprang 
upwards and dashed his shield into the mighty Foil’s 
face, and at the same time he brought forth a magic 


THE DUN OF THE SONS OF NECTAN 49 

a sling and struck the giant in the middle of his fore¬ 
head. With a crash of ringing armor and weapons, 
Foil fell. And now came forth Tuatha, the second 
son of Nectan, and with him also Cuculain went into 
combat. The darts that Tuatha flung at Cuculain 
were dodged. Behind this young knight of Ulster, 
the lawn was sown thick with spears. When Tuatha 
had thrown his last shaft, he rushed upon Cuculain 
with his sword. But Cuculain lifted the broad-bladed 
spear that Concobar had given him and cast it at 
the man who rushed toward him. And the second 
son of Nectan fell, wounded and torn. 

Then came the third son, Fenla, the son of Nectan 
who was called Swallow because of his swiftness. He 
was more at home in the water than on dry land and 
his challenge to Cuculain was that the battle should 
be fought where he could dive like a water-dog, glide 
like an eel, and rush like a salmon in the swift 
spring currents. 

Marvelous and terrible was the battle between the 
two champions. For the spray and the froth and the 
flying spume of the waters rose in white clouds about 
them. Amid the roar of the waves ever sounded the 
dry clash of the meeting swords and the clang of the 
shields and the ringing of helmets. And Cuculain 
who had been well taught at the school of Concobar 
in sports as well as studies, could dive as well as the 
son of Nectan and could outlast him in the water. 


50 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


At last the moment came when Fenla and Cuculain 
were in close combat in the water, and the sword of 
Cuculain slew the third and last son of Nectan. 

When the people of the dun saw that, they rushed 
forth and fled. And Cuculain and Laeg invaded the 
dun and burst open the doors of the dungeons and 
freed the prisoners there. They gave these captives 
the riches of the castle, and they set the vast place 
on fire. The devouring flames shot heavenward, fed 
with pine and red yew. Upwards rolled a mighty 
pillar of black smoke, reddened with rushing sparks 
and flaming embers. And far off men saw this smoke 
and consulted their prophets and wizards as to what 
this portent might mean, for it was not a little smoke 
that the burning of the dun of the sons of Nectan 
sent forth that day. 


Chapter VIII 


THE HUNT 

W HEN Lacg and Cuculain left the burning 
dun, they entered the groves of a vast wood. 
Cuculain was pale from the battle he had just 
fought and his eyes blazed. He was filled with war- 
fury and the noontide seemed like darkness and all 
shapes that came his way were murky and obscure. 

"See, O Laeg, what herd of monstrous deer is this 
wandering in the grove? Sad-colored they are and 
livid, with horns and hoofs of iron,” said Cuculain. 

“No deer of the earth are they,” said Laeg. “They 
are the enchanted herd of the mountain Slieve Fuad. 
They dwell underground and have come up to earth 
to graze.” 

"Let us pursue and run down the deer,” cried 
Cuculain merrily. 

"There is fear upon me,” said Laeg. 

But Laeg followed Cuculain because he was always 
to follow Cuculain until the day of his death. There 
was not hunting seen like this before in Erin. Cucu¬ 
lain pursued in such close and desperate chase, that 
the herd was soon run down. They fell upon their 
knees with the sobbing sound of the captured, 
si 


52 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


Springing from his chariot, Cuculain made fast two 
of the deer, one to the front and one to the rear of 
the chariot, so they went riding after with a deer of 
the underground regions running before them and 
another following behind. 

“What are those birds whiter than snow and more 
brilliant than stars?” asked Cuculain. 

“They are the wild geese of the enchanted realms 
beneath the sea. Have nought to do with these birds, 
dear master.” 

Cuculain stood up in his chariot with his sling 
in his hand and he fitted into it small bolts. He did 
not stop until he had overthrown and laid low three 
score of the enchanted birds. Then Cuculain sprang 
from the chariot and tied the birds to the harness. 
The birds returned to life and Cuculain cut the cords 
that held them so that the birds flew beside them. 

In that manner, speeding northward, Cuculain re¬ 
turned to Emain Macha. There he was welcomed 
with great reverence and glory. Bards sang of his 
marvelous deeds, his conquest of the men of Nectan, 
and the wild hunt. And Cuculain was only seven¬ 
teen years old when he did these feats. The bards 
were to sing far greater deeds in the short years 
before his death, for short-lived he was to be. And 
poets were to sing of the love that came to him and 
his marriage with fair Emer, daughter of a King, 
and of countless other triumphs. 


•MfMuMiiin 



The birds flew singing beside him 
53 






























Chapter IX 


HIS TRIUMPHS OVER THE HOSTS OF 
MEAVE 

S TRANGELY it was a woman who was the great¬ 
est opponent of the mighty Cuculain. And this 
was Queen Meave, whom a hundred thousand 
spears defended and who was herself the flower of 
the warriors in four great provinces. She went with 
her warriors to the battlefields travelling in her war- 
car among her hosts of brave men. The day came 
when the hosts of the Four Provinces and the armies 
of Meave triumphed over the men of the Red Branch. 
They were defeated but undestroyed. But even as 
fires were built in the camp of Meave and rejoicing 
and feasting was carried on, the men of the Red 
Branch were ravaging the forests for materials to 
build a rampart. They firmly resolved that they 
would perish there, taking terrible revenges, before 
they would retreat from Meave’s mighty host. 

Above, the moon rose on the night of the second 
day of the month. Her beams were reflected from 
the burnished points of innumerable spears, the 
bright faces of shields, and the ornamented handles 
of swords, and illuminated a hundred embroidered 


54 


HIS TRIUMPHS 


55 


banners. Then a mighty din, a vast confused uproar, 
resounded where camped the great host of the men 
of Meave, the neighing of war-steeds, the lowing of 
herds driven away from their accustomed pastures, 
and the bleating of countless sheep, the scouring of 
the armour of warriors, the washing of chariots and 
the noise of files, the sound of the harp, the voices 
of bards and the reciters of tales, and the loud 
laughter of those who jested and caroused. 

In the dawning of the next day, the men of Meave 
found that the men of Ulster had not fled, and they 
saw how these knights of the Red Branch had reared 
an immense rampart like a bended bow. They coun- 
ciled together as to how they would attack this stock¬ 
ade. But they were surprised to find that the Red 
Branch did not wait for them, but poured forth in 
torrents both chariots and footmen. Though dimin¬ 
ished in numbers they were proud and exultant and 
rushed forward as if thew were certain of victory. 
At first the men of Concobar were driven and tossed 
ruthlessly. Like islands in the sea were the battalions 
of the Red Branch and like the foaming seas rushing 
over them were the hosts of Meave. 

But in the midst of defeat came riding the Cham¬ 
pion Cuculain. His bronze hair tossing, he rushed at 
the side of his raging steeds, gigantic horses, neigh¬ 
ing loudly and shaking their tossing manes. And 
the prophets whispered: “The earth will not breed 



56 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


one like to him, or second. It is the Hound of Culain 
who comes to save the battle for the men of Ulster. 
It is Cuculain, the invincible who rushes to victory.” 

Then Cuculain drew forth his sling and fitted into 
it an iron bolt, where thong and timber joined. And 
this was but the beginning of many bolts to be slung. 
Swifter than words can tell was the slinging of Cucu¬ 
lain. In all directions his bolts shot, and brave men 
fell and the hosts were confused. So he continued 
his slinging, and wherever he saw the Red Branch 
overpowered, at that point he continued to shoot his 
bolts until the pressure of the foe relaxed and the men 
of Ulster were relieved. And gradually Cuculain 
routed the host of Meave until the war Queen’s bat¬ 
talions were confused and chariots and fighting men 
were cast in heaps and rolled over one another. A 
magic darkness covered all things and when it had 
vanished men saw Cuculain alone on the field of 
battle which was torn and upturned as if ploughed 
by giant teams. The hero stood alone and motion¬ 
less. Few were the champions of the world who 
would have faced him at this moment. He leaped 
upon the chariot-pole of his great war cart and 
laughed in fierceness as he stood with one foot on 
the back of Liath Macha, the grey steed. He was not 
like a mortal fighter now. And his voice pealed, the 
voice of the Hound for which he was named. 

Then sprang Queen Meave from her chariot and 


HIS TRIUMPHS 


57 


fled away upon her feet and her hosts followed her. 
And Cuculain, still laughing his wild laughter, lifted 
his shield that no one could pursue her as she fled 
with her warriors. Again Cuculain had triumphed 
for the Red Branch, and his triumph against Queen 
Meave was the greatest of any other in his lifetime. 



Chapter X 


THE HOUR OF FATE 

T HE time drew near when Cuculain should die, 
for he was in the twenty-eighth year of his life 
doomed to be short-lived. And men who were 
prophets warned Cuculain that death would come to 
him by the hand of Queen Meave, for she could 
never forget the defeat she had suffered from him. 

All those who loved the Hound of Culain urged 
him to go into hiding for at any time the clan of 
Cailitin, the six foul creatures versed in wizardy that 
were used by Meave, might bewitch him and kill him. 

So at last brave Cuculain followed the wishes of 
those who loved him and went with Laeg to a secret 
glen in Ulster. There he was entertained the day and 
night long and games of chess were played to try to 
keep him from rushing back to his chariots and 
weapons and war-steeds. But the hero was restless 
and unhappy and if he had not plighted his word he 
would not have stayed in the Glen. 

But the time came when the clan of Cailitin, the 
horrid shapes sent by Queen Meave to spy out Cucu¬ 
lain, found the hero and began their tormenting. 
Night after night they encircled him. And Cuculain 


58 


THE HOUR OF FATE 


59 


saw their forms in strange visions and heard dieir 
wild songs. The strange music continued and with 
it he heard the clear shrill notes of blown reeds, a 
martial music, the measured tread of marching men 
and the cries of captains. And these voices called to 
Cuculain to leave the glen and go forth to battle. 

Cuculain looked westward, and he saw a darkness 
moving towards him from the camp of Meave, and 
a deadly chill transfixed his heart as he looked, and 
a wild horror overspread his face and he knew it 
was not alone for the Red Branch he must fight, but 
for all the nations of Eire. Then in a vision, Cucu¬ 
lain saw his native land, sea-girt, like a picture, with 
all her tuaths and mor-tuaths, and, like silver threads 
he saw her everlasting streams; southwestward, the 
mighty Shannon running for its source at Connla's 
Well, where glistened the sacred hazel, and there 
eternally on watch and ward the fairy queens who 
guarded it, and he saw the Three Waters; the Suir, 
the Nore, and the Barrow, glittering through mid- 
Erin as they ran; the noble Slaney, too, he saw and 
the Liffey returning to its source, the lordly Boyne 
crowned with woods, and the palaces of the im¬ 
mortal gods; the Bann with its sacred estuary; the 
Drowis, and the Lee, silver-flowing, untroubled, like 
a dream, and the sacred mountains of Eire, and her 
plains and many woods, her sea-piercing promono- 
tories and storm-repelling bays. And Cuculain saw 


6o 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


her tribes and nations dwelling afar in happy labours 
employed singing as they wrought, and fleets of 
this, great and small, entering or leaving all her 
harbours, creeks and inlets, and the land like an 
emerald set in sapphire seas, lit with a strange light 
and sounding with a strange music like a single 
mighty harp with chords innumerable played upon 
by some unseen divine harper, and the land blest 
and happy in itself and a cause of blessing and happi¬ 
ness to the earth’s ends. 

And terrible was the scene that Cuculain encoun¬ 
tered when he had left the secret glen and entered 
the world of men again. There approached him the 
flying scattered battalions of the Red Branch, driven 
on by the great host of Meave. Cuculain rushed to 
meet them and helped their broken bands to reunite 
and breathed into each man the strength of his own 
unconquered soul. At dawn of the next day the men 
of Meave saw him revealed in the light of the rising 
sun and they were confused and withdrew. 

That day the great host pitched their camp in a 
clear space which was commanded by highlands. 
The sun set and not long after the moon rose and the 
stars began to shine, and the blue hills all around and 
the wide horizon were bathed in the moony glare. 
The whole host was silent, like the sea beneath the 
frosty stars when its waves fall down and are still. 

After this Cuculain defeated the hast of Meave in 


THE HOUR OF FATE 


61 


seven great battles. Many times he drove them 
southward but they were reinforced from other parts 
of Ireland and the men of Ulster who fell were not 
replaced. On the eighth day Cuculain looked round 
and saw the last of the Red Branch overwhelmed. 
Even then Cuculain rushed alone amidst the defeated 
ones, rousing them to a last battle. Like a great rock 
over which rolls some mighty billow of the western 
sea, so, was Cuculain swept down by the tide of the 
enemy. And as with the down-sinking billow, the 
same rock reappears in its greatness and stands again, 
so the Hound of Culain perpetually reappeared scat¬ 
tering and destroying his foes. In the midst of this 
horror, Cuculain beheld Laeg, his comrade, sur¬ 
rounded by a battalion and shouting for help. Cucu¬ 
lain hastened to defend him. As he leaped toward 
his faithful charioteer, a great javelin pierced his 
side, passing through his battle-shirt, and piercing at 
the same time the body of Laeg. 

The sun darkened and the earth trembled. A wail 
of agony shrilled across the land and the vast host 
of Meave was smote by panic as the flame of valour 
that was Cuculain fell with his brave comrade, Laeg. 

When the spirit went out of Laeg, Cuculain stag¬ 
gered toward a small lake near-by. There he drank 
a deep draught of the pure cold water. Afterwards 
he arose and walked toward a tall pillarstone. Re¬ 
moving his torn mantle he tied it around the pillar 


62 


THE HOUND OF CULAIN 


fastening it beneath his arms in a loose knot. This 
he did that he might die still standing. Far away the 
host of Meave watched him, for they said that he was 
immortal and would never die. Half expecting him 
to wreak some dread vengeance, they retreated to a 
great distance. The rays of the setting sun showed 
him with his drawn sword gleaming. So he stood, a 
terror to his enemies even in death. Thus perished 
Cuculain, the child of promise that was prophecied 
unto the men of Ulster. 































































































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